Fish Finder Ideas

[Turtle]

I received my first fish finder as a gift and I'm getting ready to install it in my 14' aluminum boat.  I'm looking for ideas as to what others have done in installing their fish finders and good locations within the boat. I want to mount it to something yet be easily able to take it out of the boat when we're off the lake.

My concern is if I don't mount it to anything, it's gonna get beat up and possibly knocked overboard.  

The boat is nothing fancy, just a basic aluminum V-bottom with 3 benches.  No steering wheel or anything like that.  

Thanks for your input.

Turtle

[Gun Runner]

Turtle, I've got mine mounted on the back bench seat on the left side. I can disconnect the cables from the back of it and undo the 2 side screw from the frame and take it out. "question" do you use a elec. trolling motor also? I added longer leads to my motor (cheap k-mart jumper cables with the clamps cut off one end and spliced to the end of the motor leads) this let me set the batt. way forward for weight distribution. Also added longer leads to the fish finder to reach the batt.  If your not using a elect motor, get a M/C batt, 12 to 15 bucks it will run the fish finder, and saves hauling a heavy batt around. I also got a longer fuel hose so I could set the gas tank forward, my 200lbs + gas tank, heavy batt kept the nose of the boat up  high and hard to get up on plane when I wanted to change spots. These are just simple things I have learned over the years.


Gun Runner

[Turtle]

Gun Runner - Sounds like some good ideas.  I do use an electric trolling motor (off the back) and have the battery for that.  

However, what is a "M/C" battery and who carries them? The reason I ask is sometimes I leave the electric trolling motor at home and just troll with the gas engine.  Less hassle and for what it's worth, I think we still catch the same amount of fish.  That is if you don't mind the noise of the engine.

Anyway, maybe the "M/C" battery is the way I want to go.

Thanks.
Turtle

[Gun Runner]

Turtle, sorry I dint clarify my self, its a motor cycle batt. The small ones will run your finder all day.

Gun Runner

[Don Fischer]

Hey Gun Runner I've got my fish finder hooked up to my main starting battery. Does the M/C barrery work better? And on the trolling motor, Everyone told me I needed a deep cycle battery so I got one, got any input there. Hard to believe anyone could have fished as long as I have and be as ignorant about these thing's as I am.

By the way, your location say's No. Cal. Your not by Clear Lake or Weaverville are you. Supposed to be great bassin' in both places. Fished the Trinity River years ago. Had an uncle worked for the forest service there. Great trout fishing.

[Gun Runner]

Don, I'am further inland near donner summit. Fish the high country lakes , spaulding bowman, jackson meadows ETC... havant been on donner or tahoe as they have restricted it to 4 strokes only. After 1 jan 06, everything is gonna have to be 4 stroke from what I hear. I have elec start on mine and run my trolling and fish finder off of it with no probs. The M/C batt is used ifin I take my jon boat on some of the smaller lakes, unless I just take my elect motor. The last 2 marine batts that I bought was one from came-apart (k-mart), and one from auto zone cheap auto parts place. The one from K-mart is about 4 yrs old and still works good and the auto zone batt is 1 yr old Both with 850 cca,so have had no probs. My motor is an old evenrude that is getting harder to start, but the batt comes thru for me all the time. I have used a reg car batt for the trolling motor but they dont seem to last a real long time. Gonna get a small solar pannel for the trolling motor batt and just leave it hooked up all the time while I'am fishing and camping, never know when I might need that little bit of extra juice, course if I have my evenrude no prob as it keeps the batt charged.

Gun Runner